So yeah, not much to say this week. Metal rules and all that. Try something new. You should know this by now!

NEW STUFF: (Click on them titles)

Mastodon – Emperor of SandIt doesn’t matter what Mastodon does people will either love or hate them. “It’s not metal enough”, “it’s too metal” blah blah blah. I like Mastodon for what it’s worth, and I like their current sound and style probably more than the old stuff, but I don’t have much invested in this band.

Heretoir – The CircleIt’s a shame bands like Deafheaven are giving this post/black gaze genre such a bad name because there are bands out there making tremendous music with the style. One, and possibly the current best, is Heretoir. Though I feel like most bands in this genre, Heretoir has moved a little further from the black metal aspect and more towards post but it’s hard to really hold that against them when the genre was most influenced by black metal then based on black metal. Still, Heretoir kills it on this one and if you like that ethereal, beautifully melancholic take on black metal, this album will do you just right.

Sarkrista – Summoners of the Serpents WrathFairly melodic and melancholic black metal from Germany. Sounds more Swedish to my ears but what they hey, this is pretty damn good. Great riffs and guitar passages and yeah, the sweet melancholic overtone makes the whole thing have an extra layer of catchiness.

The Obsessed – The Sacred The first The Obsessed album in 20 years and yeah, sounds like The Obsessed. Well, as Lunar Womb being the only other album of theirs I’ve heard, it sounds like more modern produced album of that. The rock n’ roll swagger, slightly southern doomparty vibe is in full force. Maybe a bit of a punk vibe this time around in places. It’s solid fun.

King of Asgard – Taudr Like a folkier Amon Amarth, which I’m cool with, because I’d rather listen to these guys than Amon Amarth nowadays. Still, rather straight forward viking themed melo-death in the that Amon Amarth vein. Solidly head bang-able.

Fange – PourrissoirSome crunchy, doom/death, French black metal. Rather frantic and sort of psychotic in nature. Just a wall of crazy sound but I sort of dig it.

ORM – ORMFairly epic, dramatic and melodic Danish black metal, dealing with old mystical times and magic of a forgotten time or place. This thing just starts right with a punch to the face and instantly grabs you. Like I said, good, solid, engaging epic themed black metal.